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hiss. ngage f settles: i 4 4 | Mravine Becovd. Pubjished Every acbier é at 144 Superior Street, |Leader Buliding| Cleveland, O. A. A. POMEROY, EDITOR AND PROP'R | THRMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: One year, postage paid..........:c0css05 coseeeees $2.00 Six months, postage paid 1.00 Invariably in advance, THE MARINE RECORD can be found for sale by the following news dealers: CLEVELAS D, O.—G. F. Bowman, corner of Pearland Detroit Streets. Evans & Van Epps, Superior street, Cleve'and, R, A. Castner, 254 Detroit s reet. Cleveland, ASHTABULA HARBOR, O.—C., Large. CHICAGO, ILL.—Joseph Gray, 9 West Ran- dolph Street. BUFFALO, N. Y.—A. C. Brideson, Michigan Swing Bridge. Also, Miss McCabe, Elk Street, near Ohio. DUiUTH, MINN.—C. F Johnson, 117 West Superior Street. MARQETTE, MICH.—J. A. Vannier. ESCANABA, MICH.—Wm. Godley. Subscribers and others are respectfully invited to use the columns ef the MARINE RECORD! for the discussion of pertinent topics. ADVERTISING RATES MADE KNOWN ON APPLICATION. Entered at the Pest Office at Cleveland as second- class mai] matter. CLEVELAND, OHIO, THURSDAY, APRIL 29. UNPOOLABLE VESSELS. During the past two weeks much feeling | that the bill is much Ihe Marine Recon. DEPTH OF WATER AT CROSSINGS. |{ Around the Lakes Continued from 1st Page.] It was noted in the Marine REcorD last week that the river and harbor bill was under consideration in committee of the whole in the house. This is in evidence in advance of the measure for providing funds for improve- ment last year and it is to be hoped that no obstruction will become a rider te prevent its early passage. It has long been known that our lake shipbuilders have been obliged in their drafts, to conform to the depth of water at the various crossings, and it is time that they were permitted to bnild without regard to these limitations, espe- cially when it is considered that the public money can not be expended in a purpose, or on an account that will be more beneficial to the country than in the improvement of our waterways. The gradual shoaling or filling up of the various passages during the winter months has long been a cause of anxiety to those interested in conimerce. Under present conditions our largest ves- sels, at times, run griat danger in having to drag themselves through the sand at the St. Clair flats, and at the entrance to many of our ports, Over exceedingly shoal places» when the least error in handling the ma chinery, or failure in the machinery to re- spond promptly, might cause most disastrous results, not only to property but to life. Navigation on the lakes requires constant atiention to depth of water, as the channels of swift-running streams are invariably fill- ing with deposits from above, and frequent dredging is 4 requisite that we can not be deprived of with any degree of safety. This matter of keeping a good and sufficient draught of water at all points should not be lost sight of. It seems that a body containing go many has been expressed by low rate vessel own- ers against the system of discrimination adopted by the hull insurance pool against their vessels. It seems that a Mikado list has been made out by the pool, which has eliminated from their books as desirable risks a large number of good vessels. Not} only is this true but some masters have been placed on this list. The hull pool for sev- eral years has been collecting facts regard- ing the prudence and seamanship of mas- ters, their luck and misfortunes, their aptitude for getting their vessels into trouble and the result is this action on the part of e underwriters. has been kinown for some time that tain companies which have entered the declined to insure vessels, the valuat ion of which is less than $5, 000, those nies holding that it costs quite as. 1 eck a vessel of small value in s ashore as it does to release one | much more, they have therefore made nnection with the pool conditional, making rates for classification and value all” vessels under the $5,000 clause should be tabooed. But, in following this arrangement to an issue these companies have not been consistent, as some of those companies that insisted on this condition in the pool, will take individual risks on the. same vessels that have been rejected by the body and consider them good risks. ; The hull pool managers insist that no ves- . sels have been boycotted. ievertheless owners of straight A2 vessels have applied for and been retused insurance on their ves. sels, vessels which, by the insurance register are valued up to $10,000. If these vessels are as good as the rating given them by the insurance companies’ ayents indicate they are desirable risks, yet the pool managers decline to cover them, notifying the ap- plicants that their vessels aie unpoolable. _In the retusal to insure however the pool managers will notify owners that they will cover two-thirds of the value in independent companies for 914 or 10 per cent premium, which is about 2'¢ to3 per cent higher than the pool rate. This looks much as it there were a wheel within the visible wheel, Several standard ywessels have been refused insurance by the: pool and the owners of those vessels naturally feel they are being unjustly dealt with by the people who solicit business of marine insurince. If marine underwriters have it in mind to make this discrimination when they are at work inspecting for classification and register in their books they have not even amoral night to place valuation or rating On those yessels. 4 Tue Marine Journal doesen’t proféss to spin the world on its index finger nor to be t e center around which planets revolve— Marine Journal, (New York.) This isa very happy concession, on the part of our New York contemporary, but we regret that it has been compelled to go back from the glory that has heretofore made it celestial, a elf-constiinted star of hope, as it were. public spirited citizens as the house of rep resentatives would not be slow to recognize these facts and hasten to bring relief. Yet it can not be denied that the body in whose hands the evil of low water should be reme- died are very remis3 in the duty of correct- ing the trouble. The appropriations are in- adequate to the requirements. Ground is occupied that after these channels have once been improved and dredged that nature will take care of the rest; but nature will do no such thing, and there remains at this time about the same condition of low water on the crossing as prevailed before the cuts were made. All contracts for establishing a uniform depth should centain a condition that the depth of water obtained and re- quired at our crossings should be maintained, ‘and that payment for the accomplishment of the work should be dependent upon the ability of said channels to maintain them- selves in depth and width, commensurate to the requirements that would be made vpon them. When this measure is carried out to practical purpose our sbipbuilders will not be limited by low water in making their designs for lake going boats. “ THE recent telegraphic reports te the effect that there is at presenta great activity in the English navy in building and refitting did not convey to many readers the idea that this would in any way assist the sales ot Michigan pine, and yet such is the case. Messrs. Flat Bradley & Company, through their agency in Bay City, completed the purchase of 100,000 feet of masts from D. Wright & Company, which purchase is made to fill an order from the English navy. The white pine of which these masts will be made is now at West Branch, and from there will be shipped by the Michigan Central road te Bay City, loaded on the schooner Sylvester Neelon and take to Col- lins’ bay. Here it will be made up in rafts, taken to Quebec and from there shipped to Liverpoo]. ‘This is said to be the first lot of Michigan pine ever sold for this purpose, the English navy having been heretofore supplied with masts from the shores of the Baltic. The first shipment of this timber will be made early in June, It is gratifying to note the firmness of owners in their refusal to load Buffalo coal under the gross ton rule, and the attitude of weakness now shown by the shippers. If the owners of the great grain fleet due at Buffalo this week adopt the same course as ‘did those which arrived early, the victory is won and the fact will have been demon- strated that the several vessel owners’ as- sociations around the lakes are a power for good. G. F. Sheldon & Son have refitted and opened their meat market at Ashtabula Har- bor, with a choice lot of meats for the ma- rine trade. They will;keep constantly on hand the best quality of meat. The propeller Savalac, now owned by the Wells’ Stone Mercantile Company, of Saginaw, took on a large quantity of shin- gles for Cleveland this week. cured at Collingwood, Sarnia and Owen SAULT STE. MARIE. The ice in the Sault River is inso rotten a condition that boats leaving lower lake perts will have no trouble in reaching Lake Su- perior. The ice in Whitefish Bay was dangerous fora week past, and fishermen were compelled to leave their grounds, Parties lumbering near Meed Luke say that the ice is entirely used up. The canal is free from it, and the locks are ready for im- mediate lockage. The steamer Ste. Marie leaves for Cheboygan. The thermometer for the last week has ranged from 60 to 75 degrees during the day, with no light frosts. EAST SAGINAW. Special to Marine Record The entire Mason fleet ot barges have been placed at the various mills ready for load- ing Wednesday morning, and the prospects are that al! men who want work can secure it withont trouble until after the fleet has started, A. ©. McLean, vessel agent and broker, has purchased a one-third interest in the steambarge D. W. Powers; consideration, $6,000. Also, a one-half interest in the tug Willie Browne from the Donley estate for $1,000. Mr. McLean has two lighters en- gaged in bringing sand from the Zilwaukee sand heaps to this city, whereit will be used on the Scanlan & Crowly paving contrac:s. Mr. L. D. Sanborn, owner of the steam- ship J. H. Prentice, which received her machinery from Hodge & Company, of De- troit; during the winter, says the craft isa daisy, and will give some of the boys achase during the season. She will tow the schoon- ers Goshawk and Shawnee in the ore and coal trade, The opening of navigation has made a noticeable improvement in the trade with up shore points. Morley Brothers, of this city, shipped nine tons of hardware and lumbermen’s tools on the second trip of the Arundel. The firm of A. F, Bartlett & Com- pany also shipped a large amount of ma- chinery on the first trip of the steamer Metropolis which left this port on Saturday afternoon. The new propeller Lucille has finished the work of altering her cabin and is now on the Bay City and Saginaw route for the season and is meeting with good success in both passenger and freight business. Captain F, L. Hunt has purchased the machinery of the dismasted tug Standard and will build, in connection with others, a fine passenger steamer, something after the style of the Lucille. There is some anticipation of trouble be- tween the longshoremen’s union and the East Saginaw stevedores’ union, two or- ganizations which will shortly be engaged in the work of loading vessels. The long- shoremen’s union are members of the Knights of Labor, are opposed to the con- | tract system of loading vessels and threaten to boycott all masters, shippers and inspec- tors who load vessels by the contract sys- tem, though just how this is to be done is not so clear, and is a matter which they would do well to leave out of their pro- gramme. The proposed measure is not looked upon with favor by other branches ot the knights, who fear it may involve the order in trouble. The stevedores’ union do not object to the contract system, and will work on the same plan as Reretalare pur- sued in vessel loading. Captain James Corbin has taken the tug Nat Stickney to Buffalo after a dredge which will be taken to Hay lake, The barge B. B. Iseman has been char- tered to take lumber from Bay City to De- troit at $1.874¢, She was not in the May 1st agreement, The barge Werway: owned by Henry Turner, of this city, has been chartered by Cleveland parties to carry ice from the islands to Cleveland. opened a scalping office in this city. . The work of hauling out the barge Theo Perry, purchased by John Prentice, is pro- gressing slowly, and it is doubtful whether she will come out at all, The experiment bas been a costly one to her owner. SHaAw. KINGSTON, Captain Patrick Edwin Langan, the veteran life saver, left Chicago on the 22d, in command of the schooner G. C. Finney, of Kingston, with 20,000 bushels of wheat at 634 cents. The sailing instructions for pilots for the Georgian bay ard Cwen Sound can be pro- Sound. The boats of the Ganenouie and Lake Champlain transportation company will make regular stops at the Cape during the present summer. The customs officers received five foadee Captain Porter Stew: art, who commanded her last, season, , has. for the seized Duck, the highest of which ($1,200) was acvepted. The purchasers are Messrs. Oldrieve & Horn. The suit of sails . , still remain in the possession of the officials, Captain Taylor has returned from Picton, where he has been inspecting the schooner Hanna Butler and the sidewheel steamer Empress of India. The Butler will begin to load grain on Monday for Oswego. The Empress has been rebuilt from the water line during the winter and raised two feet three inches, and fitted out with new tim- bers. She will also have a new stem, but as the work cannot be done in Picton, she will go to Port Dalhousie, taking the tim- ber for the stem with her, and there she will be hauled out, the new stem put into herand any other necessary repairs done. Captain Taylor will then elass her by certificate from Mr. Muir, the owner of the drydock. ASHTABULA HARBOR. Special to the Marine Record The R. & P. railroad company’s dredge has for the last few cays heen dredging out- side the piers. She is now deepening the wat- er inside so a3 to enable the deepest draft craft to euter the harbor without teaching bottom, The tug office will this year be locate in the building formerly occupied by the Marine bank, Mr. Lairds, tug is waiting for her boiler from Buffalo. S. BUFFALO. The first of the Chicago grain fleet to put in an appearance here was the Hecla which arrived at noon Sunday, the 25th, and the Calumet. came atl p.m. A2 the George Spencer arrived, and an hour later the J. H. Devereux followed her. The New Orleans was in at 3:30 and at5o’clock the Onoko was coming igside the breakwater. There were then no more in sight. ‘The tug books contained fifty-two names of vessels soon to arrive. All were assigned to elevators, though when they will all get there it is hardtosay. The ice outside is gone, though itheld the V. Swain and consort Helvetia until Monday morning. The Hecla, owned by Hon. James Ash, rather than take coal on the gross-ton system, cleared light, as will also those owned by Minch, Wilson and ' others, & Monday morning the vessel men met at the Merchants’Exchange and completed the organization of the ‘‘Buftalo Local Vessel Owners Association” by the election of Mr. W. W. Tyler, president; Captain J. J. H. Brown, vice president; Francis Almy, secretary and treasurer. John Green, James Ash, David Donaldson, Townsend Davis, Geo. W. Bone, Thomas O>llins, M. J. Galvin, and the president and vice presi- dent, ex-officio, form the executive com- mittee. Quite a long session was held and the utmost confidence in the success of the net ton movement was expressed. Messrs. James Ash, J.J. H. Brown and I, Vosburg were appointed a committee to confer with the coal meu, with a view to arrange shipment on the old system. The coal shippers maintained their former argu- ment that thé objection to gross tons was a mistaken notion and the vessel owners” argued that it was an attempt to bear coal freights. he vessel owners’ meeting in- vited masters of all vessels in port to attend and agreed to hold forth every morning un- til the question was settled. The lake car- riers gid little beyond passing a resolution in regard to uniform bill of lading, which they do not care to make public. Late Wednesday afternoon the steamer T. me W, Palmer and schooners Ogarita, E.L. — Coyne and F, L. Danforth were chartered > for coal to Chicago at 50 cents per net ton. They were taken by a shipper who was hard pressed for room and and who had to get : his coal off the cars to save damage. These ee charters, which are not denied by the other © shippers, are the first straight net charters — made here for Chicago. The other coal men claim that this shipper is nota memberof their combination and that his action will not influence them to tollow in his track. Vessel men naturally are elated ; break in the coal ranks. Pickands and consort, C, Racine at 65 centg gross, in hae The steamers H. E. : Canal freights were Saas 6 cents on wheat to New Y TEARESORT “f painted up, and! pr pearance. She receive two years ago, and is as good 2 an insurance rate of A vessel hailing from South our citizens feel justh Tug John. Gregory, | been purchased